Google sends China users to Hong Kong for uncensored results

Google has officially opened the floodgates to taboo topics in China via its …

Google has officially stopped censoring search results in China, but in a somewhat roundabout way. Google.cn no longer works as a search portal—instead, visitors are being directed to Google's service based out of Hong Kong, where taboo topics are not regulated by the Chinese government.

Google's page reads (translated) "Welcome to Google Search in China's new home." It seems pretty clear that Google is happy with shutting down its China-based domain in favor of Hong Kong. It's also highly likely that Chinese officials will scramble to block uncensored results from Google.com.hk via its Great Firewall. Google says that it's currently monitoring "access issues," and that it has set up an App Status Dashboard to show what's currently accessible in mainland China and what's not.

(As of publication, search results for the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests seem to be accessible in Beijing, according to WebsitePulse's Great Firewall tool.)

"Figuring out how to make good on our promise to stop censoring search on Google.cn has been hard," Google's Chief Legal Officer David Drummond wrote in a blog post. "We want as many people in the world as possible to have access to our services, including users in mainland China, yet the Chinese government has been crystal clear throughout our discussions that self-censorship is a non-negotiable legal requirement. We very much hope that the Chinese government respects our decision, though we are well aware that it could at any time block access to our services."

Drummond also indicated that Google does plan to continue some of its operations in China, though obviously not through the search arm. The company plans to carry on with research and development work in the mainland and maintain a sales presence there. The size of these teams will rely on how well citizens can access Google.com.hk, however—in a way, it will be up to China as to whether the company really sticks around.

At this point, Google is walking the walk after talking the talk. After a highly publicized hack in January that many believe to have been directed by China's government, the company said flat out that it would stop censoring search results and possibly pull out of China. China's reaction to the decision to redirect search traffic certainly won't be pretty, but Google knew what it was getting into when it threw down the gauntlet three months ago.

The initial reaction from outside of China has been positive. "The Center for Democracy & Technology applauds Google for following through on its commitment to protect human rights and for its continued effort to enable China's people with unfiltered access to robust sources of information from all over the world," Center for Democracy and Technology president and CEO Leslie Harris said in an e-mailed statement. "Whether the Chinese people will be able to take advantage of Google search now rests squarely with the Chinese government."

Update: It hasn't taken long for the Chinese government to make its feelings known. A government official in the Internet bureau accused Google of breaking a promise to Chinese authorities in comments made to official news agency Xinhua. "Google has violated its written promise it made when entering the Chinese market by stopping filtering its searching service and blaming China in insinuation for alleged hacker attacks," the official said.

They should never have enabled them to filter results in the first place... this goes against Google's own company policies from the start - in other words they sold out from the start of this thing....

Queue Microsoft saying they love to abide by local laws. If China said you had to kill a kitten every time someone search for "tiananmen square protests", they would ask where the cheapest place to buy kittens is.

If China doesn't like certain information sources, they should have to filter websites directly, not the search engines.

Just FYI to those who may not know ... The UK handed HK back to China in '97. So, China can now exercise control over HK-based things, too. However, they've taken a pretty hands-off approach with it, since it's pretty much taken care of itself for the past years and many businesses have grown in it under the UK's style of control. China felt it would be better to just let it hang loose as the "common grounds" for many foreign businesses. But, if China feels Google is playing hardball, they could crack down on their HK offices if they chose.

Queue Microsoft saying they love to abide by local laws. If China said you had to kill a kitten every time someone search for "tiananmen square protests", they would ask where the cheapest place to buy kittens is.

If China doesn't like certain information sources, they should have to filter websites directly, not the search engines.

Google got you hook line and sinker.

You just don't get it do you?

They're not leaving cause of censorship.

They didn't care about censorship years ago why do they care now..They're leaving because they got attacked and are gaining no traction against Baidu. The censorship is nothing more then a ploy to get consumer pressure put on Yahoo and Bing.

I still don't think this is a good idea (US corporate aggression against China).

But, as a free speech issue, I must support it regardless. Go Google, and the ball is firmly in China's court over whether they're going to continue their suppression of their citizens' basic freedoms.

Just FYI to those who may not know ... The UK handed HK back to China in '97. So, China can now exercise control over HK-based things, too. However, they've taken a pretty hands-off approach with it, since it's pretty much taken care of itself for the past years and many businesses have grown in it under the UK's style of control. China felt it would be better to just let it hang loose as the "common grounds" for many foreign businesses. But, if China feels Google is playing hardball, they could crack down on their HK offices if they chose.

Just FYI to those who may not know ... The UK handed HK back to China in '97. So, China can now exercise control over HK-based things, too. However, they've taken a pretty hands-off approach with it, since it's pretty much taken care of itself for the past years and many businesses have grown in it under the UK's style of control. China felt it would be better to just let it hang loose as the "common grounds" for many foreign businesses. But, if China feels Google is playing hardball, they could crack down on their HK offices if they chose.

The Beijing government would pay a heavy political price in Hong Kong if they do what you said. (I mean "crack down on their HK offices").

I agree with this. I doubt the HK citizens will be thrilled if the Party starts imposing Mainland style rules on them.

I was initially cynical about Google's motives when they first mentioned doing this. However, now that they have indeed walked the walk, I have changed my mind.

And its silly to believe Google is doing this because they are behind "Baidu". Yeah, they are trailing Baidu, but gaining by the year, and even in 2nd place, its a lot of money. The simplest explanation is the most likely one. They entered thinking that China could only open up from that point, but the opposite has happened. That, combined with the hacking, etc. has made doing business there a lot harder, rather than easier (as they, and many others, expected).

Just FYI to those who may not know ... The UK handed HK back to China in '97. So, China can now exercise control over HK-based things, too. However, they've taken a pretty hands-off approach with it, since it's pretty much taken care of itself for the past years and many businesses have grown in it under the UK's style of control. China felt it would be better to just let it hang loose as the "common grounds" for many foreign businesses. But, if China feels Google is playing hardball, they could crack down on their HK offices if they chose.

The Beijing government would pay a heavy political price in Hong Kong if they do what you said. (I mean "crack down on their HK offices").

Like what, not get re-elected? ;-) Please explain the political price, I don't get that part.China allows Hong Kong enough self-control, but in the end, they 'allow' it and could change it if they really want to put their foot down, no?

Just FYI to those who may not know ... The UK handed HK back to China in '97. So, China can now exercise control over HK-based things, too. However, they've taken a pretty hands-off approach with it, since it's pretty much taken care of itself for the past years and many businesses have grown in it under the UK's style of control. China felt it would be better to just let it hang loose as the "common grounds" for many foreign businesses. But, if China feels Google is playing hardball, they could crack down on their HK offices if they chose.

As part of the "new" (read: current) constitution of hk (Hong Kong Basic Law), China agreed to allow Hong Kong to have autonomy in pretty much everything except foreign affairs and defense for 50 years after the 1997 hand-off. So in theory, China doesn't have any 'control' over HK affairs. So they can't exactly 'crack down' on Google HK without going against the constitution and definitely upsetting (the already mostly anti-PRC) 7 million HK people.

Of course, in reality, there is a heavy PRC-presence in the hk government and they can definitely nudge the hk govenment in subtle and non-explicit ways to do things. But to do so without a political upset in a hk already filled with political dissent would require guile from the PRC that they seem to lack in hk politics.

It would be a lot easier for the PRC to just add the google hk domain to the great firewall of china blacklist.

Of course, google and china are just playing a game right now, so the whole redirect to google hk might just be a bluff.

Just FYI to those who may not know ... The UK handed HK back to China in '97. So, China can now exercise control over HK-based things, too. However, they've taken a pretty hands-off approach with it, since it's pretty much taken care of itself for the past years and many businesses have grown in it under the UK's style of control. China felt it would be better to just let it hang loose as the "common grounds" for many foreign businesses. But, if China feels Google is playing hardball, they could crack down on their HK offices if they chose.

The Beijing government would pay a heavy political price in Hong Kong if they do what you said. (I mean "crack down on their HK offices").

Like what, not get re-elected? ;-) Please explain the political price, I don't get that part.China allows Hong Kong enough self-control, but in the end, they 'allow' it and could change it if they really want to put their foot down, no?

I am curious too, only thing I could think of is the threat of revolution? What would people form HK do if they were suddenly repressed like mainland. How would they try to influence the mainlanders.

I can't even get unfiltered Google search results here (US), Google should abide by the laws in the countries it operates or not operate there. I find Google antagonizing China appalling and the blind fervor of Google supporters more so.

Like what, not get re-elected? ;-) Please explain the political price, I don't get that part.China allows Hong Kong enough self-control, but in the end, they 'allow' it and could change it if they really want to put their foot down, no?

Beijing is in enough hot water in HK over the democracy issue. A lot of the older people there do not trust the government, and the citizenry is, unlike the mainland, more used to taking the streets to protest (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hong_Kong_1_July_marches)

Yes, China can put its foot down, but this isn't 1989 anymore and HK is a special case, China wants to be seen as a global player, not to mention the fact that suppressing those protests would send a very, very bad signal to Taiwan.

My point above is that it isn't like censoring search results is beneath Google. They do it in the US according the laws and regulations. However by refusing to censor China's search results according to laws and regulations there, Google is not respecting China's sovereignty.

Just FYI to those who may not know ... The UK handed HK back to China in '97. So, China can now exercise control over HK-based things, too. However, they've taken a pretty hands-off approach with it, since it's pretty much taken care of itself for the past years and many businesses have grown in it under the UK's style of control. China felt it would be better to just let it hang loose as the "common grounds" for many foreign businesses. But, if China feels Google is playing hardball, they could crack down on their HK offices if they chose.

The Beijing government would pay a heavy political price in Hong Kong if they do what you said. (I mean "crack down on their HK offices").

Like what, not get re-elected? ;-) Please explain the political price, I don't get that part.China allows Hong Kong enough self-control, but in the end, they 'allow' it and could change it if they really want to put their foot down, no?

I am curious too, only thing I could think of is the threat of revolution? What would people form HK do if they were suddenly repressed like mainland. How would they try to influence the mainlanders.

Well, I think the question is not what they CAN do, cause I mean, China can do anything they want with territories under their sovereignty.

But the better question is, what would they gain from such a move? It certainly won't help business (seeing how hong kong is a financial center of asia), it won't help with public relations as hk is filled with dissent already. And it won't look good on them politically, cause they would be going against the very constitution (of hk) they helped put in place.

I mean...they CAN do it...but just for a company like Google? I don't think they are that stupid to knock down everything they built (and are still building) in hk already (a smooth transition to PRC control)

Just FYI to those who may not know ... The UK handed HK back to China in '97. So, China can now exercise control over HK-based things, too. However, they've taken a pretty hands-off approach with it, since it's pretty much taken care of itself for the past years and many businesses have grown in it under the UK's style of control. China felt it would be better to just let it hang loose as the "common grounds" for many foreign businesses. But, if China feels Google is playing hardball, they could crack down on their HK offices if they chose.

The Beijing government would pay a heavy political price in Hong Kong if they do what you said. (I mean "crack down on their HK offices").

Like what, not get re-elected? ;-) Please explain the political price, I don't get that part.China allows Hong Kong enough self-control, but in the end, they 'allow' it and could change it if they really want to put their foot down, no?

I am curious too, only thing I could think of is the threat of revolution? What would people form HK do if they were suddenly repressed like mainland. How would they try to influence the mainlanders.

Just like what Mossy Lawn said couple of post above me, Hong Kong's system is supposed to be a model for China's solution for Taiwan. Raiding Google HK's office would be a very bad demonstration to Taiwan.

I don't think there would be a "revolution" rising from Hong Kong, but HK people do go out to the streets and protest. Few years ago, HK people did go out to the street and protest against the government's attempt to enact the article 23 of the Basic Law (Hong Kong's mini constitution) into law. Article 23 mainly concerns with national security, but many HK people believe it will be a serious threat to the freedom of the press and freedom of speech.The government back down after the protest and the pro-Beijing political parties pay a heavy price in the following district council elections.

Hong Kong does have elections in its legislature. There are parties that are "pro-beijing" which holds the majority of the seats. Beijing's "direct intervention" on HK's affair usually means bad news for the pro-Beijing parties, especially if it concerns with freedom of speeches and the press, rule of law and democratic reform.

Forgot to add to my previous post. (What happened to the editing function?)

I agree with aidanlam, China would probably just block Google.com.hk with their great fire wall. They already blocked many HK's websites (newspaper, TV, blogs...etc). It's probably an easy job to add google hk on the list.

My compliments to Google. However this plays into the company's corporate strategy (and, oh, I'm sure it does) it is also the right thing to do. Google's original decision to allow its services to be manipulated by the Chinese government was irresponsible and, frankly, dishonorable. This move doesn't change that, but it makes the most of an otherwise bad situation.

From a business perspective I applaud google's decision. To me they have to continue to differentiate their product from Bing and the other search engines. One way to do so is from an ethical stand point.

To me a search engines life blood is INFORMATION, and any censorship of that information constrains the ability to provide information.

Yes. But it depends on how much China wants to get their panties in a wad. Essentially, Google is still "doing business" in "their" backyard, albeit the part of the backyard all the cool kids have been allowed to hang out in smoking pot and looking at porno mags while all the "other" people have to sit in PRC backyard being watched.

Google played this hand very well. China can block mainland PRC from HK Google, but Google is essentially, legally, thumbing their nose at China PRC.

Like I said, China could "crack down" on this if they want. And like others have said "the ball is in their court." I don't think they'd risk upsetting the way HK is running, because it would send a very clear and strong message to world businesses about how much of a PITA doing business with China will be in the future. (Sort of like dating the girl who never "thanks" the waiter...how they treat that one person is eventually how they will treat you.)

However, China is taking all the successful business models and inventing their own versions of them, so China will have control. People talk about Microsoft moving in to take Google's place ... pfftt... Baidu, a Chinese company modelled after Google's success, owns the lion's share of Chinese search, and will likely just expand. Google moves out, and China doesn't really care since they already have a decent version of their own up and running.

I think I'm also doing a disservice to China by talking about them like they're some child at the ballpark. The Chinese government is pretty mature & crafty, and they're in a good game of chess with Google.

And, I doubt they'll walk into HK and upset the "natural order of things" unless they want to piss of the Chinese Triad to high heaven. You don't want to get on the bad side of one of the most powerful criminal elements on Earth...otherwise you'll turn into the Asian version of Mexico.

And, I doubt they'll walk into HK and upset the "natural order of things" unless they want to piss of the Chinese Triad to high heaven. You don't want to get on the bad side of one of the most powerful criminal elements on Earth...otherwise you'll turn into the Asian version of Mexico.

Queue Microsoft saying they love to abide by local laws. If China said you had to kill a kitten every time someone search for "tiananmen square protests", they would ask where the cheapest place to buy kittens is.

If China doesn't like certain information sources, they should have to filter websites directly, not the search engines.

Google got you hook line and sinker.

You just don't get it do you?

They're not leaving cause of censorship.

They didn't care about censorship years ago why do they care now..They're leaving because they got attacked and are gaining no traction against Baidu. The censorship is nothing more then a ploy to get consumer pressure put on Yahoo and Bing.

Queue Microsoft saying they love to abide by local laws. If China said you had to kill a kitten every time someone search for "tiananmen square protests", they would ask where the cheapest place to buy kittens is.

If China doesn't like certain information sources, they should have to filter websites directly, not the search engines.

Google got you hook line and sinker.

You just don't get it do you?

They're not leaving cause of censorship.

They didn't care about censorship years ago why do they care now..They're leaving because they got attacked and are gaining no traction against Baidu. The censorship is nothing more then a ploy to get consumer pressure put on Yahoo and Bing.

But, as a free speech issue, I must support it regardless. Go Google, and the ball is firmly in China's court over whether they're going to continue their suppression of their citizens' basic freedoms.

You get your basic freedoms but when you criticize dirty cops. Your posts will be deleted. I don't see there's any different than China.

Just FYI to those who may not know ... The UK handed HK back to China in '97. So, China can now exercise control over HK-based things, too. However, they've taken a pretty hands-off approach with it, since it's pretty much taken care of itself for the past years and many businesses have grown in it under the UK's style of control. China felt it would be better to just let it hang loose as the "common grounds" for many foreign businesses. But, if China feels Google is playing hardball, they could crack down on their HK offices if they chose.

The Beijing government would pay a heavy political price in Hong Kong if they do what you said. (I mean "crack down on their HK offices").

Like what, not get re-elected? ;-) Please explain the political price, I don't get that part.China allows Hong Kong enough self-control, but in the end, they 'allow' it and could change it if they really want to put their foot down, no?

1. Citizens unrest. Hong Kong citizens are more likely to demonstrate than their continental brethren.2. Alienating Taiwan. Doubt they could ever push a "reunification" message again after doing this.3. Market reactions. Hong Kong is a financial centre in the region and an important trade port. Companies don't like government abuse. Many might consider relocating somewhere safer.

Queue Microsoft saying they love to abide by local laws. If China said you had to kill a kitten every time someone search for "tiananmen square protests", they would ask where the cheapest place to buy kittens is.

Cue automatic criticism of Microsoft for stating they abide by local laws. How do they differ from any other U.S. and other companies that operate in China?

As a person who hears plenty of second- and third-hand accounts of shady Chinese business deals and dubious respect for foreign partners, I say more power to Google if they really take the ball and go home.

Many smaller foreign companies have suffered by having their IP stolen (product designs, et al) just because the product was manufactured in the Chinese mainland. The bigger Western companies may survive longer in that quagmire, but that's just because they haven't figured a way to replicate your entire product.

A month ago, NQ Logic predicted that Google will move out of China. Today saw Google officially transplanting its Chinese base to its Hong Kong facilities. This value clash between an Internet company and an information-controlled country will continue to be present at every Multinational Technology executive board, and with Google’s disclosure, other U.S. technology companies will have a harder time to explain why they are still doing business in China.

For a better and complete understanding of the situation, NQ Logic encourages you to read "Google Vs. China" at www.nqlogic.com

During the negotiations between Britain and the PRC over the Hong Kong's handover, one major concern concern of Beijing was not to trigger instability and mass immigration, which can be seen in the way they compromised over issues of nationality and less specifically with regards to human rights, political self determination etc... (see Yash Ghai Hong Kong's New Constitutional Order, The Fall of Hong Kong and many others). To a degree, they failed. Tons of people still immigrated to Canada, Australia, the US... out of a lack of confidence that Beijing would keep its promises, a perception made worse by the Tienanmen Square incident.

Today, I'm not sure how society would respond to a Google crackdown in the PRC. Remember that Hong Kong's constitutional document, the Basic Law, is enacted by the National People's Congress for the HKSAR. Given the separate government institutions, they'd have to order Hong Kong's institutions or order their own people down in a blatant violation of Art.27 of the Basic Law and the Bill of Rights, breaking a fundamental law of society for Hong Kong. Whilst constitutional issues on the mainland are mostly ignored, out of a lack of power or awareness, in Hong Kong this would be big. Beijing wouldn't be just delaying on they promised like the way they are now with universal suffrage in elections (another constitutional right), they would basically be pissing all over the Basic Law. A lot of people will question, like they did before the handover, whether Beijing was about to forget its promises as it sees fit. Consequences would be bad (market flip flops, higher immatgration amongst intelluctuals, legal professional etc..) to extreme (bigger demostrations than June 2003 or even outright rioting)...so I think it'd be pretty bad, but it's hard to be certain of the reaction of the local and international communities.

As for the triads, they aren't that powerful. They don't have the massive financial backup of the Mexican cartels, they just distribute stuff locally for international dealers. They influence the poorer areas of society and some businesses, but they don't control commerce - do they control Stanley Ho? No, Stanley Ho gives THEM sketchy jobs in casinos. They don't control the police, courts of government - I dare people to show that Hong Kong is run by the triads. If it was, why don't they use the big guns instead of cleavers and martial arts? Why are there still tons of draconians laws against triads, including one that makes it criminal to admit to being a triad member. How indeed, is the ICAC (Indepedent Comission Against Corruption) even able to operate? I'm not saying that there are no triads, just that their power is limited. A truly powerful triad would be one like there was in Chongqing, where triad members were local government officers and businessmen.

Considering that even Australia is working on internet censorship, China's next step will be a block of google.com.hk . I don't see what the victory is here.

If more companies do this bold (or somewhat stupid) move, they'll be kicked out of China. It's not that China needs them. On the contrary because it's already very hard to get ground on Chinese soil because of it's economic protectionism.

Some people might say that Chinese goods should be blocked than but that'll mean all electronic consumer goods would at least be doubled in price not to speak of other goods.